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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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James T. Billups was born in Franklin County in 1839. He is the son of Robert H. and Pliny C. (Davidson) Billups, natives of Virginia; the former of English-German, and the latter probably of English-Irish, origin. After farming several years in Franklin County, they came to Scotland County, and remained about twenty years. Since then they have been in this county. The father is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic lodge. He and his wife have both held to the faith of the Baptist Church. When our subject was twenty-one years of age he married Margaret J., a daughter of William Billups, a pioneer of Van Buren County, Iowa. It is said that his wife was the first white child born in Keosauqua, Iowa. After marriage he made his home with his father, for several years engaged with him in the black smith and saw mill businesses. After the war he spent the winter in the Rocky Mountains, and after a few years blacksmithing in Scotland County came to his present farm. His place is well stocked and improved, and includes 160 acres. His children are Cynthia O., Johiel F., Sophia C., Charles P. and Rosellie. His wife died in October, 1884, a member of the Baptist Church. Our subject has followed his father in politics and religion.
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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book, The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887. For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps
View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies
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